Arlesey Town finished fifth from bottom in the Ryman League Division One North despite winning 2-1 at home to Wingate and Finchley in their final game. The Blues drifted down the table as the season wore on so the three points at least sent the supporters

Arlesey Town finished fifth from bottom in the Ryman League Division One North despite winning 2-1 at home to Wingate and Finchley in their final game.

The Blues drifted down the table as the season wore on so the three points at least sent the supporters home happier.

But a great deal of work is required over the summer months to make Arlesey a potent force in the league next season.

Ashley Townsend's quick shot was palmed around for a corner by keeper Thompson early on in a match full of pace of and enthusiasm that often led to some wayward passing.

Halfway through the half, Wingate had a shot that grazed the upright.

Then some good work by the Blues led to a cross and Paul Barnes' header went just over the bar, before his shot came off the keeper's body for a corner.

And when a neat flick-on sent Townsend clean through, a goal looked a certainty but his shot went agonisingly past the post.

A blistering spell just before half time saw the Blues deservedly grab a two-goal lead.

With four minutes to go, some Wayne Mills trickery saw him lose two defenders wide on the right for a perfect cross to find Barnes who hammered the ball home on the half volley.

Two minutes later, Barnes scored another, running the ball into space to rifle home an angled shot from 25 yards.

Craig Rydeheard went close for Arlesey on the restart and a Wingate corner saw Chris West head the ball well over the bar for their first chance of the half.

Arlesey seemed to have regained control but Wingate rallied again as Matthew Batt carried the ball into the penalty area and thumped the ball home off the underside of the bar.

Blues: Bliss, Barr, Bloss, Charamboulis, Reed, Beckett (Clarke), Mills (Leon), Tekell, Barnes, Townsend, Rydeheard.

* There was also a special award at Saturday's game.

Richard Warren presented Lee Tekell and Paul Bloss jointly with the supporters' player of the year award.

Warren is brother of Arlesey club stalwart Gerald Warren who sadly passed away recently and the award now bears his name - The Gerald Warren Supporters' Player of the Year Award.